ZX Spectrum

Lotus Esprit Turbo Challenge

Gremlin seem to be setting themselves up as some sort of driving game specialists at the moment - both Lotus and Supercars (which is also a driving game, believe it or not) arrived just in time for this issue, and we've got a Toyota Rally game to come too. (Lucky 16-bitters even have a Suzuki bike game, though that's not slated in for the Speccy at all.)

Jump into the drivers seat of a Lotus Turbo Esprit, buckle up and stick your foot on the accelerator! That’s the invitation from Gremlin and you’d be mad if you said no. This is one hot simulation, so hot you have to grab a hand of ice cubes everytime you play it!

Gremlin build their Lotus's tough. After driving my white Lotus Esprit numerous times into boulders and barriers on the long curves of Verona (?), I began to wonder how the fibre-glass body of the Esprit could take the punishment. I wiped the sweat off my brow, pulled my black driving gloves on just that little bit tighter, flicked a tic-tac, adjusted my Raybans, scratched my sideburns... etc, etc. I was ready. Tom Cruise eat your heart out...

I've wanted to drive a Lotus Esprit ever since Mr. Bond himself, Roger Moore blasted his one around in The Spy Who Loved Me. Gremlin first launched this game in 1990 and I'd almost forgotten about it when suddenly like a Sheffield based Q, GBH drove it onto my desk yet again.

However much other computer users may slag off the Spectrum, it has to be said that the Speccy is good for two things - propping doors open and speed. Take Lotus Esprit Turbo Challenge for example. Then take your Speccy (from behind the door) and load it up. It's a driving game and (once loaded) you'll be able verify that things certainly whip along at a cracking rate. Hooray!